ALS - (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
A serious, progressive, neurologic disease in which the nerve cells in the central nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement degenerate. This leads to muscle weakness (including respiratory), morbidity and mortality. Also known as Lou Gehrig's disease in the USA.
COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
COPD is recognized by WHO (World Health Organization) as the 4th, and by 2020 expected to be the 3rd, leading cause of mortality worldwide, and the only major disease characterised by a growth in mortality. COPD is a disease characterised by airflow limitation, that is not fully reversible, which is both progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles or gases (e.g. cigarette smoke).
Dystrophy
A progressive, irreversible muscle wasting disorder caused by a defect to one or more genes that control muscle function. Among them is Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy.
IMT - Inspiratory Muscle Training
The training of the respiratory muscles against a resistive or threshold load as part of a coordinated pulmonary rehabilitation programme.
MEP - Maximal Expiratory Pressure
Also known as PEmax, the measurement is defined as the maximal expiratory pressure a subject can generate and sustain, at the mouth, over a period of at least one second.
MIP - Maximal Inspiratory Pressure
Also known as PImax, the measurement is defined as the maximal inspiratory pressure a subject can generate and sustain, at the mouth, over a period of at least one second.
MND - Motor Neurone Disease
An international term used to cover a variety of serious, progressive, neurologic disease in which the nerve cells in the central nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement degenerate. These lead to muscle weakness (including respiratory), morbidity, paralysis and mortality. Among them are ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), PMA (Progressive Muscular Atrophy), PBP (Progressive Bulbar Palsy), PLS (Progressive Lateral Sclerosis).
MRPD - Maximum Rate of Pressure Development
A fatigue indicator in the measurement of PImax and PEmax, it is the steepest gradient of the pressure development curve. It will decrease with fatigue with a normal value being 525 cmH2O.s¯¹.
MRR - Maximum Rate of Relaxation
A fatigue indicator in the measurement of PImax and PEmax, it is the steepest gradient of the pressure decay curve calculated as a percentage of the PImax or PEmax. It will increase with fatigue with a normal value being 6.5%
Neuromuscular-related Diseases
Failure to operate the respiratory pump is a symptom of a number of degenerative neuromuscular diseases including ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), Multiple Sclerosis, Myasthenia Gravis, Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy, Guillian-Barré Syndrome etc.
PEmax - Maximal Expiratory Pressure
Also abbreviated as MEP, the measurement is defined as the maximal expiratory pressure a subject can generate and sustain, at the mouth, over a period of at least one second.
PImax - Maximal Inspiratory Pressure
Also abbreviated as MIP, the measurement is defined as the maximal inspiratory pressure a subject can generate and sustain, at the mouth, over a period of at least one second.
SNIP - Sniff Nasal Inspiratory Pressure
Also known as Psniff, the measurement is defined as a short, sharp voluntary inspiratory manouvre through one or both unoccluded nostrils, the result being the peak pressure.
Tau
A fatigue indicator in the measurement of PImax and PEmax, it is the reciprocal value of the slope of the logged pressure data between 50-70% of the pressure decay curve. It will increase with fatigue with a normal value is 62ms¯¹